Ultrahigh-Pressure Catheter for Angioplasty Procedures

The GPSCath balloon dilatation catheter is indicated for use in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the femoral, iliac, and renal arteries, and for the treatment of obstructive lesions of native or synthetic artreovenous dialysis fistulae. The GPSCath two-in-one device allows physicians to perform high-pressure angioplasty and inject physician-specified fluids--such as contrast medium--while maintaining guidewire position. The device includes a high-pressure semicompliant balloon and proprietary VisioValve technology, a specialized valve system that allows injection of physician-specified fluids without exchanging devices for fluid delivery. The GPSCath balloon dilatation catheter is a product of Hotspur Technologies (Mountain View, CA, USA), and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is not intended for use in coronary arteries.

"The Hotspur GPSCath balloon is a superior alternative to a noncompliant ultrahigh-pressure legacy devices currently in use,” said interventional radiologists Bruce Lin, MD, and Stephen Liu, MD, of Lifelink Interventional Center (Modesto, CA, USA), who performed the first commercial deployment of the GPSCath. "This is because the flexible nature of the Hotspur device allows tactile and visual feedback on the stenotic lesion, while still providing the performance of an ultrahigh-pressure angioplasty balloon.”

PTA is a minimally invasive procedure used to open the blocked or narrowed femoral artery and restore arterial blood flow to the lower leg without open vascular surgery. A catheter is inserted into the femoral artery with a tiny balloon at its tip. The balloon is inflated once the catheter has been placed into the constricted section of the artery, which then compresses the atherosclerotic buildup in the artery, improving blood flow. A stent may be also be inserted into the widened area of the artery to prop it up and prevent collapse.

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